Canadian pianist Anastasia Rizikov is a remarkably
poised and precocious twelve year old who is already showing signs of
being “one to watch”. She is currently performing numerous solo
concerts in major US cities such as Detroit, Chicago, Binghamton, New
York City, New Jersey City, and Washington, and returns to these cities
every fall for solo performances. Anastasia recently gave two
performances of Kabalevsky’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the
International Symphony Orchestra conducted by Robert Debbaut in Sarnia,
Ontario, and in Port Huron, Michigan. In 2009, she performed as guest
soloist with the Northwest Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by
Michael Holian and in 2010 with the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra in
Michigan conducted by Nan Washburn, in performances of Chopin’s Piano
Concerto No. 2 in F Minor. She also performed the string quartet
arrangement of the Chopin in Binghamton, NY, under the leadership of
Steinway artist John Covelli. Closer to her Toronto home, Anastasia
has performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Toronto
Sinfonietta, conducted by Matthew Jaskiewicz; and made concert
appearances in London and Toronto.

Anastasia is currently on the
international competition circuit, winning many awards in the process.
In May 2011, she captured first prize in the Rotary International
Piano Competition in Palma de Mallorca, Spain – choosing to enter the
more challenging Category A (up to 28 year old) – the youngest person
in the competition’s 18 years to do so – and winning over players twice
her age! She will return to Spain for a series of solo recitals, as
well as a concerto performance with Balearic Symphony Orchestra.

In 2010, Anastasia won first
place in the Thousand Islands International Piano Competition for Young
People (Cape Vincent, USA). She also won first place at American
Protégé 2010 International Piano and Strings Competition and performed
in New York City’s Carnegie Hall. She had already performed at
Carnegie Hall when, in 2009, Anastasia became the first place winner at
the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition. In 2008,
representing Canada, Anastasia performed with great success in the
Kremlin at the international festival “Moscow Meets Friends”, organized
by Vladimir Spivakov’s International Charity Foundation; she was
awarded the Festival’s medal and diploma. Also in 2008, Anastasia had
the honour of performing at the fourth “Young Stars of the Young
Century” Gala Concert organized by Vladimir Spivakov’s Charity
Foundation, which took place in the Toronto Centre for The Arts. In
2006, Anastasia became the first place winner at The Vladimir Horowitz
International Young Pianists Competition in Kiev, Ukraine, again,
representing Canada. She was also given a special award for Best
Artistic Performance and, at age seven, made her orchestral debut,
performing Polunin's Concertino in A minor with the National
Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, conducted by Mykola
Diadiura.

J.S. Bach - Prelude & Fugue in A Minor (Audio)

Chopin - Rondo in C Minor Op. 1 (Audio)

Nationally, Anastasia is also a
first prize winner at both the Canadian Music Competition (CMC) and
the Canadian Chopin Competition. The Chopin competition, held every
five years, lead to Anastasia’s appearance at a gala winners’ concert
at Koerner Hall in Toronto. Annually, Anastasia wins first place at
several local competitions in the Greater Toronto Area, including
Markham Music Festival, Yips Music Festival, North York Music Festival,
Peel Music Festival, Davenport Music Festival, Toronto Music
Competition, Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto, Kiwanis
Provincial Music Festival, and the Canadian Music Competition (CMC).

Liszt - Gnomenreigen (Audio)

Concertino Polunin in A minor

Anastasia has given interviews
and performed at Toronto’s Classical 96.3 FM radio station, CBC
Television news, Russian MIX TV, and the Ukrainian TV programs Svitohliad and Kontakt.
An excerpt of one of her videos was even briefly shown on The Oprah
Show during a feature on gifted children. Anastasia studies with
award-winning Master of Music Maia Spis, teacher at the Nadia Music
Academy in Toronto. She has played in master classes for Anatoly
Ryabov (Professor at the Conservatory of Moscow), Oxana Yablonskaya
(Professor at the Juilliard School of Music), and has worked with Olga
Kern (winner of the 2001 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition).
Anastasia began her studies at age five, and since then showed
unparalleled dedication to both practice and performance.

Beethoven - Concerto No. 1

Part 1

Part 2 & 3

Fluent in Russian, Ukrainian,
and English, Anastasia does spend rare moments away from the piano.
She loves to read because “it is like entering a whole different world
and experiencing the role of my favorite character – so my imagination
goes wild!” She also loves animals, shopping, and she treasures her
friendships, which are difficult to foster, given her practice and
travel schedule. “I always look forward to seeing my friends, although
I rarely see them. When I do, I feel like one of them, not like an
adult – the way I feel most of times.” Her dreams are to become a
renowned and accomplished pianist with beautiful dresses on stage, and
to “touch the hearts of the audience.”